Ms Jones said that, after Charlotte's birth, she, Mr Keen and the baby had been living in an apartment in Havelock Street until she kicked him out a few months later because he had been cheating on her.

Questioned by Crown prosecutor Susan Borg about her relationship with Mr Penrose, Ms Jones said they became more than just friends within days of her splitting with Mr Keen.

Ms Jones said that, after moving in with Mr Penrose, the couple had had separate bedrooms but maintained a sexual relationship.

Ms Borg has told the jury Charlotte was attacked on the night of December 11, 2004, by Mr Penrose after the baby had been left in his care when Ms Jones was out with friends.

Charlotte was later taken to the Wodonga Hospital emergency department before being transferred to Albury Hospital and then flown to the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. She died five days later after her life support was switched off.

Ms Borg said Mr Penrose claimed Charlotte had vomited in her cot about 10.30pm on December 11, 2004.

He then said he had to bathe her and change the sheets.

"The prosecution alleges that, shortly prior to Charlotte vomiting, the accused assaulted her. He either struck her, threw her, and/or shook her in the cot and, regardless of which of these things he did, his assault upon her caused the significant head injury that led to her death," Ms Borg said.

She said police went to Mr Penrose's house and found blood that later matched Charlotte's on her cot and netting as well as on a blanket, sheet and the mattress. The cot was also found to have had broken slats.

Cross-examined by Mr Kelly, Ms Jones agreed she had once been a suspect in Charlotte's death. She denied claims by Mr Kelly that she had been besotted or obsessed with Mr Penrose and wanted to have his baby.

She agreed that, during all the times she spoke to police over the years, she said she could not recall Mr Penrose ever acting aggressively towards Charlotte or his own daughters.